Claudication and vascular disease

In this topic, students should consider the common causes and consequences of vascular disease. While atherosclerosis and its complications are clearly important, the spectrum of other vascular disorders should also be considered.

Learning objectives:

At the completion of this topic you should be able to:

1. Describe the epidemiology, macroscopic and microscopic features of atherosclerosis.
2. Provide an explanation for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis that encompasses the key epidemiological and pathological features described above.
3. Describe the natural history of an atherosclerotic plaque, and the diverse physiological and clinical consequences that may arise from a complicated lesion.
4. Describe the pathological changes that may be seen in the arterial tree as a consequence of systemic hypertension.
5. Outline the common causes of aneurysm formation, and describe the consequences of their development at typical sites within the arterial tree.
6. Define false aneurysms, and describe the common causes of these lesions.
7. Comment briefly on the common developmental defects that may arise in the vascular system, and their clinical consequences.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the pathogenesis of the vasculitic syndromes, and the way in which these conditions may be diagnosed.
9. List conditions that may result in leucocytoclastic vasculitis, and recognise the pathological distribution of lesions in distinct vasculitides, including polyarteritis nodosa, Wegener granulomatosis, Buerger disease and giant cell arteritis (temporal arteritis).

1. Describe the "response to injury" hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
2. Discuss the causes and complications of aortic aneurysms.

Other relevant protocol - 43

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